Special Ops night landing question

I have crossposted this question because I realized that those in the
military area would definitely have some knowledge about this.

Last night, which was a super quiet, calm and moonless night, I was out
standing on the ramp when I heard the rather sharp bark of tires as a plane
landed at the far end of the runway. There was no sound to preface this.
Immediately afterward I heard the sound of prop blade reversal which was
fairly loud. Then I noticed that this plane probably only rolled about 100
feet after touchdown. From my perspective, it looked like this plane hardly
rolled at all after touchdown.

The plane, which was a turboprop by the sound of it and fairly large, took
off with about another 100 feet of ground roll. I could hardly believe what
I could hardly see (it was very dark). The airport beacon did splash some
light on it for a split second as it rotated, but I couldn't discern much.

It stayed in the pattern, but only got to about 100 feet off the ground and
was moooving fast. It came in for another landing, banking extremely to line
up for final. I now realized that there was no landing lights (just nav
lights, no strobes), but more importantly, no runway lights. "Holy crap, how
is the pilot doing this?", I thought.

I remember when arriving at the airport, seeing a black SUV parked at the
landing end of the runway, just visible in the waning light. Could he be
helping with this operation?

Another pilot joined me and said that this was Special Ops from a local base
and that the plane was a Pilatus. Not the new fancy ones, but a special STOL
equipped aircraft.

Does anyone have information about this? This was the most eerie display of
flying I've ever seen....well, barely.

Thanks,

-Trent
PP-ASEL

On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 11:10:11 -0400, "Trent Moorehead"
wrote in
::

the plane was a Pilatus. Not the new fancy ones, but a special STOL
equipped aircraft.

Does anyone have information about this

http://search.yahoo.com/search?_adv_...&vc=&fl=0&n=10

Trent Moorehead wrote:

Another pilot joined me and said that this was Special Ops from a local
base and that the plane was a Pilatus. Not the new fancy ones, but a
special STOL equipped aircraft.


It is most likely a Pilatus PC-6. Go to:

http://www.pilatus-aircraft.com/4_sp...l_missions.htm

--

Remove the cork to Reply by e-Mail.

NC by any chance?

"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...
I have crossposted this question because I realized that those in the
military area would definitely have some knowledge about this.

Last night, which was a super quiet, calm and moonless night, I was out
standing on the ramp when I heard the rather sharp bark of tires as a
plane
landed at the far end of the runway. There was no sound to preface this.
Immediately afterward I heard the sound of prop blade reversal which was
fairly loud. Then I noticed that this plane probably only rolled about 100
feet after touchdown. From my perspective, it looked like this plane
hardly
rolled at all after touchdown.

The plane, which was a turboprop by the sound of it and fairly large, took
off with about another 100 feet of ground roll. I could hardly believe
what
I could hardly see (it was very dark). The airport beacon did splash some
light on it for a split second as it rotated, but I couldn't discern much.

It stayed in the pattern, but only got to about 100 feet off the ground
and
was moooving fast. It came in for another landing, banking extremely to
line
up for final. I now realized that there was no landing lights (just nav
lights, no strobes), but more importantly, no runway lights. "Holy crap,
how
is the pilot doing this?", I thought.

I remember when arriving at the airport, seeing a black SUV parked at the
landing end of the runway, just visible in the waning light. Could he be
helping with this operation?

Another pilot joined me and said that this was Special Ops from a local
base
and that the plane was a Pilatus. Not the new fancy ones, but a special
STOL
equipped aircraft.

Does anyone have information about this? This was the most eerie display
of
flying I've ever seen....well, barely.

Thanks,

-Trent
PP-ASEL

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
. com...
NC by any chance?

Yep. Harnett Co. airport in Erwin.

-Trent

"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...
I have crossposted this question because I realized that those in the
military area would definitely have some knowledge about this.

Last night, which was a super quiet, calm and moonless night, I was out
standing on the ramp when I heard the rather sharp bark of tires as a
plane
landed at the far end of the runway. There was no sound to preface this.
Immediately afterward I heard the sound of prop blade reversal which was
fairly loud. Then I noticed that this plane probably only rolled about 100
feet after touchdown. From my perspective, it looked like this plane
hardly
rolled at all after touchdown.

snip

It was Jay dropping off brochures for his establishment.

(Sorry Jay, couldn't resist)


---
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Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
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It was John Edwards sneaking home after bull****ting his way through
last nights debate....

Jon Kraus
PP-ASEL-IA
Student Mooney owner


Chuck wrote:

"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...

I have crossposted this question because I realized that those in the
military area would definitely have some knowledge about this.

Last night, which was a super quiet, calm and moonless night, I was out
standing on the ramp when I heard the rather sharp bark of tires as a

plane

landed at the far end of the runway. There was no sound to preface this.
Immediately afterward I heard the sound of prop blade reversal which was
fairly loud. Then I noticed that this plane probably only rolled about 100
feet after touchdown. From my perspective, it looked like this plane

hardly

rolled at all after touchdown.


snip

It was Jay dropping off brochures for his establishment.

(Sorry Jay, couldn't resist)


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.772 / Virus Database: 519 - Release Date: 10/1/2004

Figgers. There's a lot of that strange stuff going on in NC...Unmarked G4s
zooming out of unmarked hangars. "What was that?" "What? That?" "Don't
know...". "You've been here 10 years, what do you mean you don't know!"

"Trent Moorehead" wrote in message
...

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
. com...
NC by any chance?

Yep. Harnett Co. airport in Erwin.

-Trent

Maule Driver wrote:
Figgers. There's a lot of that strange stuff going on in NC...Unmarked G4s
zooming out of unmarked hangars. "What was that?" "What? That?" "Don't
know...". "You've been here 10 years, what do you mean you don't know!"



Yep, like the 747 and the IL-62 that were used last year at
Laurinburg-Maxton NC (MXE) by someone for what appears to be HRT training.
they are gone now, cutup for scrap, but we found lots
of 9mm paintball rounds, casings and silhouette targets
on board, just before they were scrapped.

Just for reference...
http://home.earthlink.net/~silverrequiem2/maxton.htm

Trent

Use to make blackout landings in a U-10 when in the 605th Air Commando
Sq.

Used a large open field with three individuals with flash lights in an
"L" shape.

Set up rate of descent and flew bird into the ground. No flare.

Donut cutters )

Big John


On Tue, 5 Oct 2004 11:10:11 -0400, "Trent Moorehead"
wrote:

I have crossposted this question because I realized that those in the
military area would definitely have some knowledge about this.

Last night, which was a super quiet, calm and moonless night, I was out
standing on the ramp when I heard the rather sharp bark of tires as a plane
landed at the far end of the runway. There was no sound to preface this.
Immediately afterward I heard the sound of prop blade reversal which was
fairly loud. Then I noticed that this plane probably only rolled about 100
feet after touchdown. From my perspective, it looked like this plane hardly
rolled at all after touchdown.
on it for a split second as it rotated, but I couldn't discern much.

----clip----

Does anyone have information about this? This was the most eerie display of
flying I've ever seen....well, barely.

Thanks,

-Trent
PP-ASEL